The two versions tell very different stories. I suggest, ask yourself what story do you want the image to tell, what is the main subject or theme, when you answer those questions, you will have the answer to your question about cropping.
I agree with JD750, what do you want to emphasize, the flower or the bird?
My Canon 85mm 1.8 has a min up focus of about 4 feet I believe. If you shot it from 5 feet away that would be a very tight head shot on a 1.6 crop body camera. Not quite sure what the issue is here between the 50 and the 85...
Best, Todd Ferguson Harrisburg, NC
A month ago, I solicited advice as to using a 50mm f1.4 or an 85mm for portraits. I have limited room in which to use my gear, about 10' from sensor to subject. The majority suggested that I use the 50mm lens because of the short distance. I used the 50 the other day and found myself taking a candid headshot @ approx. 5 feet. I believe now that the 85mm would have been the better choice. I' talking crop factor of 1.5 btw.
Would you consider that situation to be shooting candid or portraits? How do you perceive the differences?
Also, I don't quite understand the math between a 10ft + distance with a 50mm on an APS-C camera, and how an 85mm at less than 5 ft works better for a portrait. What am I not understanding here?
The two classic portrait lenses for 35mm were 105 and 135, and I mean primarily head shots or maybe waist up. I use an 85 on my DX camera for head shots, which puts it in the range, and I think a 50 would be shorter than I like.
About a month ago, I asked this forum if they thought that an 85mm (DX format} for my Nikon D7100 camera would be too long for head shot portraits. I was told that for the short distance I would have available, that a 50mm would fit the bill. In the room that I plan to shoot in, I have at least 10 feet of distance between subject and camera. Well, I went out and bought a 50mm. Yesterday, I saw my 6 grandkids for father's day. Holding off-hand, I found myself shooting at a distance of less than 5 feet for a facial portrait. Needless to say, this is not what I expected. That won't give me enough room for the speedlight/soft boxes I have purchased. Now, I am sorry that I didn't go with the 85mm I had in mind originally.
The two classic portrait lenses for 35mm were 105 and 135, and I mean primarily head shots or maybe waist up. I use an 85 on my DX camera for head shots, which puts it in the range, and I think a 50 would be shorter than I like.
About a month ago, I asked this forum if they thought that an 85mm (DX format} for my camera would be too much for head shot portraits. I was told that for the short distance I would have available, that a 50mm would fit the bill. In the room that I shot, I have at least 10 feet of distance between subject and camera. Well, I went out and bought a 50mm. Yesterday, I saw my 6 grandkids for father's day. Holding off tri-pod, I found myself shooting at a distance of less than 5 feet for a facial portrait. Needless to say, this is not what I expected. Now, I am sorry that I didn't go with the 85mm I had in mind originally.